I struggled with the slow development of characters and really the characters themselves. The story didn’t really draw me in as I had hoped.

I was provided with an ARC of this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Ice Swan by J’nell Ciesielski is a stunning historical fiction novel that literary has it all: richly drawn historical narrative, complex and memorable characters, mystery, suspense, and romance. I was enthralled from beginning to end.

This book has everything I want in a historical fiction. I have always loved anything concerning Russian history, specifically the approximate 300 year span of Romanov dynasty. This book incorporated the 2nd Russian Revolution of 1917 and the fall of the monarchy. The author clearly has done her research by including true events, dates, attitudes, and personas. The way she described the dichotomy of the formerly “elite and royalty” and the vacuum of their previous positions into this “new” world and society depicted their identity crises perfectly. Some adapted much better then others.

I loved the landscapes. The story takes the reader from Russia to Paris to Scotland. The author splendidly created images and landscapes that I could easily envision from her imagery and descriptions. Each location and its citizens were spot on.

I also loved the character cast in addition to the two main characters: Svetlana Dalsky and Wynn MacCallan. (Shot out to the awesome character of Leonid!) Their opposites attract personalities made for excellent material for their meetings, friendship, and finally romance. I love how both broadened one another’s worlds. I really liked how both had their own flaws, strengths, insecurities, troubled pasts, hopes, and dreams. Both seemed to bring out the best in one another and they both matured, grew, and I feel, became better individuals as part of a team. Their romance was slowly won and worth the wait. I love how the story progressed, and where they both ended up...each with a home, purpose, and bright future despite their losses and fragilities. I truly loved the ending. Perfect in every way.

I have been a huge fan of Ms. Ciesielski for some time now, so as soon as I saw she had a new book, I knew it would be as captivating as her previous (I loved The Socialite and Beauty Among Ruins). This is a wonderful addition to her amazing portfolio and I cannot wait to see what she creates next.

5/5 stars enthusiastically

Thank you NG and Thomas Nelson for this stunning arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I am posting this review to my GR, Instagram, and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication.

2 1/2, elevated to 3. It was okay.

I found the historic parts very interesting. Unfortunately, I didn't connect much to the characters, and I found the dialogue a bit stilted.
The different cities and geography are well done and do a good job of cementing the historic setting, as the characters from from Russia to Paris and to Scotland.

I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley and this is my honest opinion

Another fine hist fic novel by the talented J'nell Ciesielski! It’s 1917 and we’re swept from Russian during the Bolshevik Revolution to Paris devastated by the Great War, where injured Russian Princess Svetlana Dalsky is treated by Scottish surgeon Wynn MacCallan.

Such a precarious time! War swirls around them as do bloodthirsty Bolsheviks out to kill every Russian Royal. An enticing tale with a swoon-worthy romance, making Ciesielski a must-read author for hist fic lovers!

5 of 5 Stars

Pub Date 06 Jul 2021
#TheIceSwan #NetGalley

Thanks to the author, Thomas Nelson - Fiction, and NetGalley for the ARC. Opinions are mine.

many many readers. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! No spoilers. Beyond amazing I enjoyed this book so very much. The characters and storyline were fantastic. The ending I did not see coming Could not put down nor did I want to. Truly Amazing and appreciated the whole story. This is going to be a must read for many many readers. Maybe even a book club pick.

From imperial Russia to wartime Paris to the Lowlands of Scotland, this book has it all. Wow. I love this author but this is now my new favorite. Certainly a winner in my book! The characters are incredible and the plot is relatively unique. Read it. It is excellent!
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in order to facilitate a review. All opinions are my own. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise.

A beautiful story about sacrifice and survival in a war-torn world. Princess Svetlana Dalsky barely escapes her homeland of Russia when the Bolsheviks come into power. She runs to Paris with her mother and sister and tries to keep them alive until they can be reunited with her father and brother. Wynn MacCallan is the second son of a Duke who is dedicating his life to medicine. He is saving lives in a makeshift hospital in Paris. When Svetlana and Wynn's paths cross neither of their lives will ever be the same. When Svetlana runs out of options she enters into a marriage of convenience with Wynn, but he truly loves the ice princess and does all he can to capture her heart. The character development is excellent and while mistakes are made there is a lot of growth for many of the characters in the book. This book is filled with romance, mystery, and intrigue. The artwork for the cover is heartstoppingly beautiful! If you like love stories, you will love this story. Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Publishing for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I was really excited to be allowed to read this book but it was very hard to get into.. I’m not sure if it was the characters or the storyline but I just couldn’t get into it.

The Ice Swan follows Svetlana, a Russian princess, as she flees from the Bolsheviks in Russia to Paris. Wynn is a surgeon there, tending to wounded British soldiers. They meet when Svetlana is injured and from there their paths continue to cross, often to the annoyance of Svetlana. She does not trust people easily (she is terrified the Bolsheviks will find her and her family), but Wynn is persistent- he wants to keep checking in on her as a doctor but he also finds her brilliant and intriguing. After the two of them save a man who was shot on the street, things get more complicated for them and the story really picks up steam.

At first, I didn’t care for Svetlana. She was self absorbed and, in Wynn’s own words, snobbish. Most of the women I’ve read about in this time period are British- portrayed as having quiet strength, kind, and selfless (even when they have superficial and self absorbed mothers). J’nell Ciesielski did something interesting with Svetlana… she made her pretty snobbish in the beginning. And it made sense. She was raised as a princess with a mother who told her she was better than the peasants. She SHOULD be snobbish. She is confident and poised, and Wynn likes that about her.

Speaking of Wynn, at first I was confused as to why he liked Svetlana. But then I realized they share characteristics, but his are better disguised because 1.He is a man and 2. His are based on his proven abilities rather than false information he is fed about being better than others. He is drawn to her because she knows her worth and can match him in confidence. Wynn was confident and pushed the bounds of his medical practice because he knew he was smart and he had done his homework in the field of cardiology. Both characters grow so much in this book.

I felt the second half of the book had a misunderstanding/ prejudice of Svetlana’s that took too much time for her to work through because, at that point, her relationship with Wynn was pretty established and she should have better read his intentions. But other than that, I loved this book and would highly recommend it. It has a great plot, is rich with historical details, and the secondary characters are well developed.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

i wanted to love this book. but for me the characters lacked depth and i felt we were force fed the story from different views, and that just was not for me.'
thank you to netgalley for letting me read this e arc in exchange for an honest opinion

Thomas-Nelson has another winner on its hands with The Ice Swan. I could not put this book down! I absolutely loved the characters. They didn’t always make the easiest or the best decisions, but I felt like the author’s description(s) of the characters made them so real to me! I was captivated by this book from start to finish. The characters, the story, the setting, and plot are all top notch. I think the characters are the best quality of this book, but you could also easily choose the plot or the setting. Overall, this book is a winner!

Excellent love story set during and after WW1 between a Russian princess and a Surgeon Scotsman Noble. The book was very well written and was difficult to put down. The characters had depth and you were rooting for Svetlana and Wynn as they worked out how to love - and choose to love - each other amidst human shortcomings, mistakes, and misunderstanding with forgiveness, vulnerability and grace, fighting for each other rather than living in hurt or pride. They were realistic and relatable and I very much enjoyed the novel. Will definitely be reading more from the author.

Thanks to Netgalley and Thomas Nelson publishers for the advanced copy of this book in return for an honest review. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

4.5 stars
I wasn’t sure how I would feel about this book, but I knew that I really wanted to try it out. However, it was even better than I had hoped, and now, I want to read all of Ciesielski’s books. The Ice Swan was a daring, breathtaking historical romance.
Svetlana is a princess fleeing from the murderous flames of the Russian Revolution with her mother and sister to Paris. However, living as a refuge is more difficult than she could have imagined and the horrors of Russia are not that far away. Wynn MacCallan loves his work as a surgeon and doesn't care for his title of second son of a duke. When Wynn treats Svetlana for a minor injury, he finds himself drawn into the world of a world of decaying imperial glitter and underground Russian clubs where drink, culture, and questionable dealings collide on bubbles of vodka.
I really liked Wynn, he was such a nice guy who had a kind heart. He didn’t care about titles, and just wished to be a surgeon. He fell for Svetlana at the beginning, but it took a lot for him to break down her walls. He did have his faults, and he placed such a big burden on himself, but he truly cared for Svetlana. I liked reading about him winning Svetlana’s heart and learning how to live with the repercussions of a war.
Svetlana had to grow on me, she was proud and strong. She had learned not to trust others and not to show her emotions. However hidden behind the ice, was a kind woman who was just trying her best. Svetlana had to learn to trust Wynn and to let him into her heart. She had to learn to let down her walls.
Svetlana and Wynn will have to learn to trust each other and to work through the demons that haunt them. Will their relationship be able to weather the storms of life? They were a good couple, and they helped each other stay grounded and find the joy of life. I was really intrigued by the plot of the story, I couldn’t put it down and ended up staying up late to read it.
I really enjoyed the Ice Swan and I would totally recommend it! The characters were complete and I really liked Svetlana’s sister and Wynn’s friend. The Ice Swan is a clean historical romance, but it does deal with issues seen during a war. So I would probably recommend it to 13 years and up.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the publisher through Netgalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion, a positive review was not required.

I posted my review on Goodreads, Bookbub, and Barnes and Nobles on 03/11/2021

I adore this author's books. This one is just as satisfying. She writes in an accessible and engaging way, her characters are all unique, and her plot lines are outstanding. This book lives up, plus the places it is set, Russia, Paris, and Scotland, are brought to life in a vivid way. Thank you for another spectacular book!

I received a copy of this book from Net Galley in return for an honest review.
Rating breakdown:
Characters- 1/1
plot-2/2
writing-2/2
Total-5/5

Wow, wow, wow! I really loved this book. It had so many good twists and turns that made it so enjoyable. If you love the Anastasia movie, you will definitely love this book. I fell in love with the characters and felt like they had a very well-paced emotional journey. The plot was intense at times, with a lot of action and intrigue. I absolutely love the historical aspects incorporated into this book, and it makes me want to keep reading books placed in this period. All in all, 100% recommend if you like slow burns with a large focus on history, plot, and character development. The only criticism I have is that at times, it was hard to follow the Russian vernacular she used for some of the character's dialogue but other than that, everything was straightforward and easy to follow.

Book Review for The Ice Swan by J’nell Ciesielski
Full review for this title will be posted at: @fyebooks on Instagram!

This title and subject intrigued me. The strange formatting of the manuscript made it very hard to get into. I'm sure that will be fixed. Great research and descriptions, but shallow character development made it hard to care about their story. The point of view wanders, so we are being told the story instead of feeling it from the characters.

"The Ice Swan" is a fabulous historical romance by the talented J'nelle Cielsielski. Among the aristocrats fleeing for their very lives during the 1917 Russian Revolution, Svetlana Dalsky wisely abandons her noble title. Her mother does not, however, and the supremely arrogant and entitled Princess Ana causes unpleasant complications. They are not safe from the Bolsheviks in France.

Funny and self-effacing, the charming Scottish physician Dr. Edwynn MacCallan first meets the beautiful and initially standoffish Svetlana in war-torn Paris. His singular pursuit of her confuses both her and his friends.

Rich in historical detail, the Dalskys' terrifying escape from the Bolsheviks is vividly portrayed. The book touches on the fledgling field of cardiology, ballet, the Great War, and the Spanish Flu. This makes for a fast-paced read, and although it slows down a bit in Scotland, it quickly picks back up.

The characters are well-developed. Even Princess Ana redeems herself in a rather dramatic fashion. This mostly serious novel has some moments of humor, from Svetlana's confusion over English idioms to Leonid Sheremetev's threat to make a ham sandwich out of someone. He was my favorite secondary character.

Cielsielski is a magnificent storyteller who weaves actual history into her books. Her lovely prose is wonderfully descriptive and flows well. She is now one of my favored authors of historical romance. I look forward to more from Cielsielski. The only book of hers I haven't read is "The Socialite" and I plan to remedy that soon.

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for an ARC of this marvelous novel.

I hadn’t read any of the authors books before, but I had heard of her and was keen to read this one. I have to say it exceeded my expectations. It tells the story of Svetlana, who is a Russian princess at the dawn of the Russian Revolution. When war breaks out she flees to Paris with her mother and sister. There they live in poverty and as quietly as possible but all that changes when she meets Wynn, a British doctor and a unbeknown to her a Marquis. The first half of the book was brilliant I loved the way the author explored the ww1 hospital, the characters and the decisions that had to be made everyday. The character of Wynn was by far my favourite, although he was the ‘romantic’ lead, he wasn’t a stereotype and he was the perfect t foil for Svetlana’s coldness and fear. I would say that the second half was weaker, I won’t say why for fear of giving away too many spoilers but the change of scene didn’t work for me and the ending felt a bit rushed,
I have to give a quick shout out to the character of Leonid as well, he was brilliant - the last scene with him really had me laughing.
All in all I really enjoyed this, and I will be reading the authors other books.

The Ice Swan is basically every single thing I love in a good book: Intriguing history—check. Fantastic writing voice—check check. Swoony romance—check check CHECK. 😍😍😍 So so so good. And bonus points because I've long been fascinated by Russian history (fourth-grade Melissa got particularly obsessed, going way overboard with a school project about Russia in true goody-two-shoes fashion) and so everything about the Svetlana's plight was captivating to me. And the fact that it takes us from Russia to Paris to SCOTLAND (swoooooooon) made me insanely happy. And we get a teensy cameo from Beauty from Ruins, the author's last book, too. Loved that! J'nell Ciesielski has quickly become a must-read author for me!